March 6, 2011 by Brad.

It is very easy to prepare images to get outstanding prints at Turning Point Arts. In fact, it might require fewer steps than you think. I have noticed that some clients perform resizing and resampling steps that are actually unnecessary and had they not been done, very likely would have produced better prints. It would also have saved them time. So in the interests of helping you get the best possible prints with the least amount of work (on your part), I am writing this series of articles.

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Posted in Photography, Printing, Digital Art-ifacts | Print | 1 Comment »

March 6, 2011 by Brad.

“Apps” have become the modern “great differentiator” between devices. ‘MY app store has more apps than their app store, so buy MY smartphone. It’s obviously better than theirs.’ Well, that’s the implication anyway. Marketeers love this; it’s Marketing 101–they teach it in school. Find and flog the key differentiator(s) between your product and their product. If you can’t find one, then invent one.

But “apps” (as ‘defined’ by Apple and now Google, Nokia; and I’ve even read that Microsoft is considering the idea for Windows “8″) are bad, VERY bad. They’re bad for consumers; they’re bad for developers and they’re bad for the computing industry in general. They’re only good for Apple (and possibly Google, Nokia, et al.), but not indefinitely.

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September 21, 2010 by Brad.

Given the wide deployment of broadband Internet access and the advanced state of streaming video technology, something I don’t understand is why are TV channels only available through a cable or satellite TV operator? Just about every AM and FM radio station features a “Listen Live” link on their web site home page. Why is there not a corresponding  ”Watch Live” link on the home page of every TV station’s web site?

Radio stations must see many benefits to feeding their signal through an Internet connection. For starters, a web page is interactive–while folks are listening to the stream, they can also read and click on ads, which is an additional revenue source for the broadcaster.

Sponsors must love this too, since their ads can appear on a different rotation through the web page than on-air.

With streaming over the Internet, listeners can tune-in to their favourite stations from back home, even while on vacation or business trips. Wouldn’t the same apply to favourite TV channels from home?

So I don’t get it. Why don’t TV stations support this? How can the cable and satellite TV operators have this stranglehold over the feed?

For further insight into the cable stanglehold, read this.

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September 18, 2010 by Brad.

“Reflecting Nature: Reflecting Spirit” is the title of Cathi Jefferson’s monumental installation piece now exhibiting at the Cowichan Valley Arts Council office at 2 - 139 Station Street, Duncan. I was very much impressed by how Cathi’s workmanship demonstrates a complete command of and intimacy with her medium. This is definitely not pottery as one normally thinks of it–bowls, vases, urns, etc.–but rather an exploration of ideas expressed in organic analogs of nature and spirit, as the title indicates.

I strongly urge everyone in the Cowichan Valley area to make a point of seeing “Reflecting Nature: Reflecting Spirit”. I know you will be surprised and awed by it.

For further information, see the CVAC web site or Cathi’s own web site.

Cheers!

Brad

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August 15, 2010 by Brad.

I recently encountered some mysterious behaviour in Windows 7 (Home Premium 32-bit). Immediately after logging in (usually right after a reboot), the system would become almost completely non-responsive for about 15 minutes. And just as mysteriously, it would then return to normal until the next time I logged in, which could be several days later. What the heck was going on? Was this a Windows bug or something I had done? In fact, it was both…read on to find out the surprising solution!

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September 6, 2009 by Brad.

Greetings!

There is a common misconception that the correct “resolution” for images viewed on a monitor or the web is 72 ppi. One of the undesirable side-effects of believing this misconception is that it can lead you to get the wrong display of images with the View > Print Size command in your image editing application.

The problem is that View > Print Size depends on your application knowing the correct screen resolution and your screen resolution is probably not 72 ppi. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Digital Art-ifacts | Print | 1 Comment »

September 1, 2009 by Brad.

We use a MagicJack USB dongle for long-distance telephone calls over our Internet connection. The price is hard to beat and the unit works amazingly well most of the time. We have a cordless telephone base unit connected to the USB dongle and the handsets can be used throughout the house and deck. Provided of course that the MagicJack software is running.

MagicJack does not operate as a Windows service. It needs its application to be running under a logged-in Windows user. Initially, I had the USB dongle plugged into my desktop workstation. But since I often reboot or run heavy CPU applications, my workstation was not the best place for running the MagicJack.

Recently, I set up another computer on our network as a file server and I also wanted it to host the MagicJack instead of my workstation. This server would run Windows 7 and it would be headless (i.e. not have a monitor, keyboard or mouse of its own). To manage the server, I would log into it using Windows Remote Desktop Connection . The question was: could I get MagicJack to operate in this evironment?

In my initial attempts, the MagicJack software kept crapping out, but…

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September 1, 2009 by Brad.

Thanks to everyone who came out for “Arts on the Avenue” in Ladysmith on Sunday. The weather was awesome and we think more people came through than ever before. For our part, we sold some stuff and we met a lot of very nice people, many of whom signed up for pottery classes and took printing brochures and business cards. What more could one ask?

Thanks again!

We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!

Cheers!

Brad & Peggy

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September 1, 2009 by Brad.

I’m still catching up but not nearly as late this time! The theme for August 2009 was “Conflict”. I don’t know if it was a case of too many folks in a happy mood or the exceptionally wonderful weather we’ve been having on Vancouver Island last month, but our members had some trouble producing “Conflict” images. Even so, we did get some good ones. Click here to see the top 3 results.

NEWS FLASH!

The first meeting of our second club season will be September 22. To celebrate an awesome first year and to get the new one off to a brilliant start, our guest speaker is Mike Yip, the well-known Vancouver Island nature photographer and author. Mr. Yip will be giving a presentation on Vancouver Island birds, including equipment, techniques, great bird locations and of course, outstanding bird photos. This presentation is sure to be both informative and inspiring for shutterbugs of all levels and interests.

If you’re interested in joining the Ladysmith Camera Club, please click here to send an email to the club to get further information. The club meets the 4th Tuesday of the month at “The Terrace Room” behind “The Printingdun Beanery Cafe” at 341 First Ave, Ladysmith, British Columbia. The public is welcome. There is a $5 drop-in fee for non-members. The LCC welcomes new members, novice to pro.

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September 1, 2009 by Brad.

I am very bad! This post should have gone up a month ago and I apologize to the members of the Ladysmith Camera Club for being so remiss in this duty. The good news is I’ll also be posting the August theme shoot today–two for one! So without further ado…

For July 2009, our members submitted 17 images for the “Old & New” theme shoot. Click here to see the top 3 results.

If you’re interested in joining the Ladysmith Camera Club, please click here to send an email to the club to get further information. The club meets the 4th Tuesday of the month at “The Terrace Room” behind “The Printingdun Beanery Cafe” at 341 First Ave, Ladysmith, British Columbia. The public is welcome. There is a $5 drop-in fee for non-members. The LCC welcomes new members, novice to pro.

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